Eight Ways to Get Outside

Note: Article links refer to map points.

When most people think of St. Pete/Clearwater, they picture its 35 miles of pure white beaches, 20-or-so barrier islands and blue-green waters teeming with life. While the waterfront may be the prime attraction, the area has dozens of outdoor adventures waiting to be discovered off the beaten path.

It doesn’t matter if your passion is birding, bass fishing or something else, there is a great getaway just around each corner. In no particular order, here are eight ways to get outside.

1. Ride the Pinellas Trail

Stretching from St. Pete to Tarpon Springs, the 40-mile Pinellas Trail offers walkers, runners, bicyclists and in-line skaters a safe place to exercise.

Built atop an old railroad line, this unique greenway carries travelers along the oak-lined hammocks of several parks, across rivers and creeks where wading birds feed, and through quaint, picturesque small towns where the weary can stop for a bite to eat.

Get a free trail guide and map online (www.pinellascounty.org/trailgd) that details rest stops, bike racks, restaurants and other amenities that make the Pinellas Trail one of the most user-friendly greenways in the United States.

2. Hike Brooker Creek

Located just east of the Greek fishing village of Tarpon Springs, Brooker Creek Preserve is a wilderness oasis. With 8,500 acres of swamps, pine flatwoods and hardwood hammocks to explore, spend a few hours there, and you’re sure to see an array of native flora and fauna.

The preserve’s first-rate education center offers four miles of hiking trails open from 7 a.m. to one hour before sunset. To see the most wildlife – and Brooker Creek is home to everything from deer to bobcat – come early. A self-guided, 1.5-mile loop trail, complete with a bridge and boardwalk, is available for those who want to go it alone. Admission is free.

3. Skate the Ream Wilson Trail

When completed this 11.5-mile paved trail (also called the East-West Trail) will link Safety Harbor to Clearwater Beach, giving in-line skaters the opportunity to skate from Tampa Bay to the Gulf.

This seldom-used trail is a secret spot for in-line skaters who want to open up and unwind. At the time of publication, only 4.4 miles of trail is open, connecting Safety Harbor’s Bayshore Drive westward to the City of Clearwater’s Long Center. On the opposite end of the trail (to the west), a 1.2-mile section crosses the Memorial Causeway Bridge and connects the Pinellas Trail to Pier 60 on Clearwater Beach.

The trail has all the standard amenities such as restrooms, water fountains and benches, but skaters can also stop to picnic, watch people fishing or even play a little disc golf.

4. Canoe Weedon Island

Weedon Island Preserve, with its miles of mangrove-lined waterways, once played host to one of the oldest cultures in Florida. A succession of American Indians lived here for a reason: the bountiful waters of this estuarine area kept them well fed and happy.

Ten thousand years later, Weedon Island hasn’t changed much. The brackish water is still a favorite fishing ground for kayak-bound anglers in search of trout, redfish and snook. Birders also flock here by the thousands to add roseate spoonbills, reddish egrets and white ibis to their life lists.

Paddlers can choose from two trails in the 3,000-acre preserve. The southern canoe trail is a well-marked, 4-mile loop easily accessible next to the fishing pier. The north trail, which begins in an old work canal off of San Martin Boulevard, is equally scenic but requires a little more planning.

5. Swim at Caladesi Island State Park

Accessible only by private boat or public passenger ferry, Caladesi Island State Park doesn’t attract the crowds of some of its neighbors. On a weekday, it is not unusual to share a large expanse of sugar-sand beach with nothing but seabirds.

But it’s the water that makes this place so special. Blessed with the constant flushing action of nearby Hurricane Pass, the water is generally unusually translucent, making the area a great place to swim.

It’s best to make a day of it. Catch the ferry at nearby Honeymoon Island State Park and grab lunch at Caladesi's full-service snack bar. Admission fees vary.

6. Enjoy the Nature Center at Honeymoon Island

One of the newest additions to the area eco-scene, the Rotary Centennial Nature Center spotlights the flora and fauna of one of the most popular parks in the state, Honeymoon Island State Park.

Florida’s ever-changing barrier islands share a unique relationship with the sea. No place is this more evident than at Honeymoon, which was separated from nearby Caladesi Island by the hurricane of 1921.

The constantly evolving shores, and the adjacent sea grass beds, salt marshes and mangrove swamps, provide unique habitat for a variety of little-noticed species. Visit the nature center then head out for a beach hike. You are guaranteed to see sea life in a new light. Admission fees vary.

7. Birdwatch at Boca Ciega Millennium Park

Boca Ciega Millennium Park was in the news several years ago, thanks to the discovery of stone-age fossils by a local high school student.

But while Millennium Park may be known for its ancient creatures, it’s the living ones that attract visitors from all over the United States.

Located along the fertile waters of the Intracoastal Waterway, Millennium Park is a major resting area for birds on their migration south. These feathered friends like the fact that park planners maintained and expanded many natural communities, including mangrove swamp, pine flatwoods and salt marsh.

The park, a registered stop on the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s “Great Florida Birding Trail,” also has a boardwalk and observation tower.

8. Explore Fort De Soto Park

Fort De Soto Park, a 1,136-acre park comprised of five interconnected islands, has a little something for everybody. For starters, of course, there's the fort, which is great for kids (climb to the top for great views and to take their photos next to a cannon). The award-winning, amenity-rich park was recently named America's top family beach by Parents magazine.

Launch a powerboat from the park's ramp to fish the Gulf of Mexico, or slip your kayak in the water (rentals available onsite) and follow a well-marked paddle trail. Two fishing piers with full-service snack bars, as well as concessions that rent everything from sit-on-top kayaks to four-wheeled, surrey-style bikes, means you’ll never run out of things to do.

Popular with cyclists and in-line skaters, a paved trail runs the length of the park. Off-road trails are favorite haunts for birders and wildlife photographers. Water sport enthusiasts will find two well-marked swimming beaches. Kite surfers and sail boarders ride the wind along the park's East Beach. But Fort De Soto’s most popular attraction is the tree-covered family campground. People from all over the country come to pitch a tent and relax by the water. Make reservations early. However, the park designates 10 percent of its inventory as walk-in sites, so those without a reservation have a chance for a short (one- or two-night) stay.